Durham’s own beloved Nnenna Freelon invites you to share in a special evening featuring a preview of her newest creative production,“The Clothesline Muse,” plus story activities and buffet dinner. This unique event will be the opportunity for her home-town fans to share in the creative process prior to its national premiere and national tour!

The Clothesline Muse is a theatrical experience fusing emotive dance choreographed by Dr. Kariamu Welsh, music composed and performed by Nnenna Freelon, and brilliant visual art created by Maya Freelon Asante.

For 59 years DAC has provided fertile ground for creative minds to develop professionally and create artwork. One of the earliest recipients of a Durham Arts Council Emerging Artists Grant was Nnenna Freelon in 1989. With this grant Nnenna was encouraged as a budding Jazz vocalist and she passed on her love of the arts to her daughter, visual artist Maya Freelon Asante, who took ceramic and painting classes at DAC as a youth. Both creative professionals are now coming back to DAC to rehearse a new collaborative work called The Clothesline Muse.

The Clothesline Muse is a multi-media performance that combines live music, dance and artwork onstage, sharing the story of women who washed clothes by hand. This is a unique opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes view of a production in progress. Following the excerpt performance, audience members will be invited to participate in an open discussion with Nnenna, Maya, and Kariamu about the process of creation, the subject of the performance and future plans of The Clothesline Muse.

Want to stay in touch with The Clothesline Muse? Join our community on Facebook, and add your voice to our project! Here's something to muse over: How many things can a sheet be? Tell us and we'll pin your ideas and dreams to the sky too.

ABOUT THE DURHAM ARTS COUNCIL

The Durham Arts Council is a private nonprofit dedicated to supporting the arts in Durham and the entire Triangle Region in North Carolina and has served the community since 1954. Each year DAC serves over 400,000 visitors and program participants, over 1,000 artists, and more than 60 arts organizations through classes, artist residencies, exhibits, festivals, grants programs, technical support, arts advocacy and information services. By supporting the Durham Arts Council, you help DAC fulfill its mission of promoting excellence in and access to the creation, experience and active support of the arts for all the people of our community. For more information call 919.560.ARTS or visit our website at www.durhamarts.org.